WPR Programs

For more than 80 years, live radio broadcasts from "The Metropolitan Opera" have been a Saturday tradition in many American households. Host Margaret Juntwait and commentator Ira Siff return for another season. "The Metropolitan Opera" can be heard from December through May on WPR's News & Classical Music Network.

Host Norman Gilliland provides listeners with a wide variety of classical music, presents a story from "Grace Notes," and holds the popular "Midday Quiz." Musicians traveling through Wisconsin often stop by the studio for live performances, discussions about their most recent works, and upcoming shows. "The Midday" can be heard weekdays on the NPR News and Classical Network and on WPR's All Classical Network from 12 to 1 p.m.

"The Moth Radio Hour" is a highly acclaimed program dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. It’s a celebration of both the raconteur, who breathes fire into true tales of ordinary life, and the storytelling novice, who has lived through something extraordinary and yearns to share it. "The Moth Radio Hour" can be heard on the Ideas Network Thursdays at 7pm.

"The Odyssey Series" is produced and narrated by Dr. Jonathan Overby. The segments air on WPR's NPR News & Classical Music Network every Saturday at 10 a.m. "The Odyssey Series" explores music the world over and its power to create greater understanding of those near and far.

"The People's Pharmacy" is a source for health information: from breaking news on drugs to the top health headlines of the week, information on alternative therapies to using herbs and home remedies for common ailments. The show aims to help listeners become their own best health advocate. "The People's Pharmacy" can be heard on the Ideas Network Saturdays from 6 to 7 a.m. and again from 2 to 3 p.m.

Every weekend, tune in to Dr. Jonathan Overby's celebration of world music with African roots and more. It’s the stage where international music traditions -- old and new -- come together. Hear this four-hour world music mix on Saturdays 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Central Time.

"The West Side" is a call-in program focused on issues specific to western Wisconsin. The show airs on Mondays at 10 a.m. on 88.3 WHWC-FM/ Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7 WRFW-FM/ River Falls. Listeners may call in with questions and comments during the program. The show can also be heard live online at www.wrfw887.com

Each episode of "This American Life" explores a theme through a variety of true stories from everyday people, short stories from authors, and research from experts and journalists. The drama found in everyday life, presented by host Ira Glass, is thoughtful, touching, and emotional. "This American Life" can be heard on the Ideas Network Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

"To the Best of Our Knowledge" is a nationally-syndicated radio show that cracks open the world and the ideas that fuel its engine. The show airs two hours a week, each revolving around a theme. Some themes are big, like: Are Humans Innately Good? Others go micro, like Revenge of the Nerds. Once we pick the theme, we dig in with interviews that explore the culture, the debate, the stories, the science and the actual sound of it all....

Travel With Rick Steves mixes interviews with guest travel experts, call-in questions and comments, and music. Hear talk about favorite travels in Europe, as well as travel anywhere in the U.S. and the rest of the world. Along with exciting destinations, hear about how to keep healthy on the road, bicycling trips and tips, senior travel, finding chocolates, fear of flying, and more. This program can be heard Saturday's at 3pm on the Ideas Network stations.

Hosts Norman Gilliland and Emily Auerbach invite distinguished faculty guests from the University of Wisconsin-Madison to discuss topics in music, art, writing, theater, science, education, and history. "University of the Air" can be heard on Sundays at 4 p.m.

"Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!” is NPR's weekly hour-long quiz program. Each week on the radio, listeners can test their knowledge against some of the best and brightest in the news and entertainment world while figuring out what's real news and what's made up. "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!" can be heard on the Ideas Network Saturdays at 9 a.m. and Sundays at 12 p.m....

"Weekend Edition -- Satuday" wraps up the week’s news and offers a mix of analysis and features a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winnning Scott Simon. "Weekend Edition -- Saturday" can be heard on the NPR News & Classical Music Network Saturdays from 7 a.m to 10 a.m....

Wisconsin Classical is a weekly, one-hour broadcast featuring performances by Wisconsin musicians, recorded at venues around the state. Hosted by Lori Skelton, each show draws upon concert recordings and interviews from outstanding ensembles and soloists, ranging from the Madison Symphony Orchestra to the Eau Claire Master Singers. It airs on the NPR News & Classical Network and WPR's All-Classical HD Network on Sundays at 1 p.m.

"Wisconsin Life" is an audio essay series that celebrates the unique, distinctive and cherished aspects of the place we call “Wisconsin.” Its aim is to communicate a strong sense of regional identity -- a sense of place -- to radio listeners, through story. "Wisconsin Life" airs on WPR on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. during "Morning Edition;" on "Central Time" at 4:15 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; and on the "Joy Cardin Show" Fridays at 6:55 a.m.

"WPR Politics" is a weekly podcast about the ins and outs of Wisconsin's political news. Host John K. Wilson and WPR reporters clue listeners into stories they may have missed and tell them what's actually interesting about stories they've already heard a thousand times.

Each week Dr. Zorba Paster and co-host Tom Clark provide listeners with health and fitness tips to live a full and healthy life. The down-to-earth, personal style makes this call-in show as entertaining as it is informative. "Zorba Paster On Your Health" can be heard Saturdays from 8 to 9 a.m. and again from 1 to 2 p.m. on the Ideas Network.

“45 North,” hosted by Anne Strainchamps, was a live conversation with writers, performers, artists, scientists, and creative people from Wisconsin and around the world. The show aired on WPR’s Ideas Network from April to December 2013, and is still available for download and streaming via the show archives, below. “45 North” was produced by Marika Suval and Rhonda Fanning with technical support from David Potratz, Joe Hardtke, Tim Allen, Elizabeth Delaquess, Tom Blain...

"Calling All Pets" with hosts Patricia McConnell and Larry Meiller aired weekly on Wisconsin Public Radio's Ideas Network for almost 14 years. It was also distributed nationally for several years and, at one point, was carried on 110 public radio stations. The last new show aired on May 10, 2008, however programs were repeated until June 2009. Audio archives are available here from January 6, 2007 through May 10, 2008.

"Here On Earth: Radio Without Borders" was hosted by Jean Feraca and ran on Wisconsin Public Radio from July 2003 until Jean retired on March 30, 2012.

Over the years, Jean worked with and mentored an estimated 40 producers, students, interns, and volunteers. The show's series on Muslim culture, "Inside Islam: Dialogues and Debates," won a Brass Crescent Award in 2009 for its blog and a Gabriel Award in 2011 for "Muslims, Mosques, and American Identity,"...

“Hmong Public Radio,” was a Hmong-language news and culture program heard Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wisconsin Public Radio’s (WPR) 88.1 WHID in Green Bay and 91.9 WHDI in Sister Bay. It has ended production as of August 2016.

The program was created in 1985 by volunteer host Jouabee Lor to serve the Hmong population living in northeastern Wisconsin. Maiko Katie Thao and Shoua Thao took over hosting the program in 2009, offering news, music,...

"Michael Feldman's Whad'ya Know" was two hours of laughs, games, and trivia. Each week Michael Feldman got the scoop on "the news that isn't," bizarre memos, and hilarious answers to audience questions. Each hour Michael would play the Whad'Ya Know Quiz to test listeners on their knowledge of unconventional trivia. After over 30 years "Michael Feldman's Whad'ya Know" ended production at Wisconsin Public Radio on June 25, 2016....

Lori Skelton hosted this series of live chamber concerts performed by Wisconsin musicians in the Chazen Museum's Brittingham Gallery III on the UW-Madison campus. Sunday Afternoon Live from the Chazen was heard from September through May 11, 2014 on the NPR News and Classical Network from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

"The Whad'Ya Know Radio Hour" took the best bits of "Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know" and packed them into one hour. Listen to Michael talk to audience members, interview guests, and play the famous Whad'Ya Know Quiz. "The Whad'Ya Know Radio Hour" was heard on Wisconsin Public Radio on Saturdays and Sundays until it was retired on June 19, 2016.